Comedian and movie director Shim Hyung-rae came under a hailstorm of criticism on Monday after a picture emerged of him sitting at a nightclub with supposedly underage girls.Earlier in the day, a young woman uploaded a photo that she said was of herself with Shim. The photo shows Shim and scantily-clad girls sitting in what appears to be a private room at a nightclub with alcohol and food placed on the table in front of him.There was a furor among netizens when it was learned that the person who

개그맨 심형래가 술집에서 찍은 근황 사진이 공개돼 논란이 일었다.최근 온라인 게시판에는 `심형래 근황`이라는 이름의 사진이 게재됐다. 사진 속 심형래는 클럽으로 보이는 술집에서 여성들과 함께있는 모습이다. 이는 한 네티즌이 자신의 페이스북에 공개한 사진으로, 해당 여성들은 19살에 불과한 미성년자인 것으로 알려져 네티즌들의 따가운 눈총을 받고 있는 것.이에 사진을 올린 누리꾼은 페이스북에 “안녕하세요. 심형래 아저씨와 찍은 사진을 페이스북에 올린 학생입니다. 언니들과 친구 두 명이랑 놀고 있다가 우연히 심형래 아저씨를 보게 돼서 팬이라고 사진 한 장만 찍어도 되냐고 여쭤봤더니 흔쾌히 허락해줬습니다”라고 전했다.이어 “저희는 정말 심형래 아저씨와 사진 한 장만 찍었을 뿐이고 그 자리에서 감사합니다라고 하면서 나왔습니다. 저희랑 같이 간 언니들이 너희 클럽 구경 시켜주는 대신에 술 마실 생각 죽어도 하지 말라고 해서 그날 술 한 잔도 입에 대지도 않았지만 제 나이와 맞지 않게 저런 모습

Teenage golf star Lydia Ko has split with the only coach she has had since she took up the sport as a 5-year-old.Ko told Television New Zealand on Monday she was sad to have ended her partnership with Guy Wilson, who she called a great coach and friend. But she said she and her family had decided it would be impossible to continue the relationship because she will be based in the United States and he in New Zealand.“It doesn't really work, him being here and him coming on the weeks that I'm not

South Korean stocks rose 0.68 percent Monday as investors were cheered by strong growth data from the United States, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar. The country's key stock index, the KOSPI, advanced 13.54 points to finish at 1,996.89. Trading volume was light at 218 million shares worth 3.17 trillion won ($2.99 billion) with gainers outpacing decliners 491 to 310. Analysts said sound economic growth data from the world's largest economy underpinned investor senti

A Bitcoin exchange in South Korea said Monday that it will provide real-time market data on the virtual currency on its website starting this week.So far, buyers and sellers have had access to only the latest transaction volume and value of Bitcoins, but now they will be able to monitor real-time market data streams on the cybercurrency, according to the currency exchange Korbit (www.korbit.co.kr).Bitcoin, a cryptography-based digital currency that advocates say is counterfeit proof, was introdu

Lee Hae-jin, chairman of the board of directors at Naver Corp., recorded the highest increase in valuation gains this year among stock-rich businesspeople in Korea, according to data released Monday. Lee saw the value of his shares in two companies including Naver soar 675 billion won ($63.6 million), or 133 percent, from 507.4 billion won recorded at the end of December last year to 1.2 trillion won as of Thursday, according to FnGuide, a market research firm.The combined value of stock shares

Pedro Rodriguez filled in for Barcelona's missing star forwards by netting a hat trick in 10 minutes before setting up Cesc Fabregas twice as the visitors erased a two-goal deficit in a wild 5-2 win at Getafe on Sunday.Barcelona's entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital.Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to s

South Sudan's central government lost control of the capital of a key oil-producing state Sunday, the military said, as renegade forces loyal to a former deputy president seized more territory in fighting that has raised fears of full-blown civil war in the world's newest country. Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state, is now controlled by a military commander loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, said Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese military spokesman. “Bentiu is in the hands

Apple on Sunday unveiled a long-anticipated deal with China Mobile, the world's biggest wireless carrier, to bring the iPhone to customers in a market dominated by low-cost Android smartphones.The deal gives Apple a bigger entry into the huge Chinese market and China Mobile's estimated 760 million subscribers. The network is also rolling out the world's biggest 4G network.Under the agreement, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c phones will be available at China Mobile and Apple retail stores across mainland

South Korea's industry minister on Monday urged the heads of state-run companies to double their efforts to reform their organizations, warning those who fail to do so may be sacked.In a special meeting with the heads of 41 public firms currently under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Yoon Sang-jick said the recently submitted plans of the public firms on debt-reduction and other reform measures showed little sense of crisis or will to overcome such a crisis by their

After a year muddied by irregularities, exposed corruption and profit losses, the South Korean banking sector faces strong supervision by the regulator as well as demand for internal controls. Scandals have damaged the reputations of top lenders, who have been implicated on suspicion of private data leaks, shady art work purchases and the possession of slush funds.The Tokyo office of No. 2 lender Kookmin Bank is under investigation by the Seoul financial watchdog and the prosecution for alleged